i personally define "classic" as songs that came out before 1990, and songs released in the 90s and 00s as "nostalgic." i am also aiming to list only one song per artist.

• africa, toto
• barracuda, heart
• beds are burning, midnight oil
• break my stride, matthew wilder
• bust a move, young mc
• california dreamin', the mamas & the papas
• can't help falling in love, elvis presley
• cherry bomb, the runaways
• come and get your love, redbone
• don't stop me now, queen
• everyday, buddy holly
• heart of glass, blondie
• hey jude, the beatles
• hotel california, eagles
• house of the rising sun, the animals
• hungry like the wolf, duran duran
• hurt, johnny cash
• knock on wood, amii stewart
• like a prayer, madonna
• play that funky music, wild cherry
• renegade, styx
• saturday night, bay city rollers
• starman, david bowie
• superstition, stevie wonder
• sweet caroline, neil diamond
• sweet dreams (are made of this), eurythmics
• tainted love, soft cell
• take on me, a-ha
• the gambler, kenny rogers
• thriller, michael jackson
• thunderstruck, acdc
• welcome to the jungle, guns n' roses
• who can it be now?, men at work
• you keep me hangin' on, kim wilde